* them speaking Chinese *
* notices me *
* gossiping about me *
Ah, I know what you said there...
One of the funniest things to me...
Is when I see non chinese people
With Chinese tattoos that say...
Like really random, or crazy unintentionally hilarious stuff
Chicken nood soup
This is a real phenomenon and I've actually seen it in person quite a few times
So today what we are going to do is, we're going to go undercover
And see what Chinese people think about tattoos like this
Although it is winter
Can't really show off much skin
So instead...
What do you guys think about this?
I know you guys are probably looking at this shirt thinking like...
Oh that looks really cool, that must say something like...
Strength or power or love
But it actually just says foreigner
This is also kind of like the slangy way a lot of Chinese people will refer to
Anybody non asian
By the way if you want to go get one of these bad boys for yourself
You can just go to merch.xiaomanyc.com
Or just go to the merchshelf below this video
And as you'll see in this video it is a sure fire conversation starter
* this looks like an interesting store to try first *
[hard to hear in the video but they say in Chinese...]
Look at that foreigner with the "foreigner" shirt!
* she laughs *
Check it out!
Hey, do you guys see that guy's "foreigner" shirt?
* they all chuckle *
"Foreigner" clothing, now I've seen it all...
What's wrong with my clothing?
Huh?!?!
You don't like it?
I do!
"Good!"
Can I get some vegetables?
Wow!
Oh, I thought you were...?
Anyway, what do you want?
They were talking about your shirt...
What's wrong with it?
It's nice!
You like it?
His Chinese is so good!
I can't believe he speaks Mandarin!
How is his Chinese is so good?!
That's incredible!
Anyway, let me get a bok choy...
Bok choy...
Yeah
How many years have you been learning for?
Many
Many years?
You are so smart!
Thanks
Plus you speak so well!
Thanks
It's amazing!
I bet you have a Chinese girlfriend!
I have a Chinese wife!
Yes, she's from Beijing!
Oh, I'm from Beijing too!
Are you?
Yeah
That's awesome, man
Douzhi is my favorite [fermented mung bean drink from Beijing, notoriously sour taste]
You really like douzhi?!
It's great
Wow, he's got the accent and everything
And also you're handsome!
What are you talking about!
Anyway, I already have a wife!
I'm making a video today trying to see...
...would think about my shirt
That's cool man
Some people are only so-so at this language...
...but your Chinese is really great!
Oh, thanks!
Your wife has great taste!
Is that so?
Of course, such good taste!
* it started the INSTANT I walked into this Chinese mall *
* she notices me...wait for it... *
Check out this tourist's shirt... should we tell him?
* says out loud * Foreigner!
What's wrong?
Foreigner, on your clothes!
You don't like it?
It's great!
I am a foreigner after all...
We were just admiring the Chinese on your shirt
Yep!
Foreigners are pretty great, after all
I bet you've studied a lot of Chinese?
A lot!
For real, I can tell!
You think so?
Your Chinese is so good!
Not as good as yours though!
Of course, you are the foreigner, I am the "countryman"
You are my wife? (Mishearing her)
No, the "countryman" [as opposite of foreigner I guess]
Anyway, what do you want to eat?
I want...
Gotta have been at least two or three years of studying Chinese, right?
Oh, many years, I started studying Chinese 10 years ago
Did you go to China?
Yes, I did
Oh, to learn Chinese?
Yeah
It's great to know how to speak Mandarin or other languages
The more the better!
Exactly!
Are you from YouTube?
Yeah yeah
Yeah, can I get a picture with you?
Sure, of course yeah!
Is he famous or something?
This guy's super famous!
For real?
You should put this on YouTube!
* them speaking Chinese *
How much is this one?
3 dollars?
Yeah can I get it?
* she makes a motion like she's gonna hit someone? *
Hitting people?
No, this
I know I love it, its great right?
That's great for back scratching
* notices my shirt *
Haha, "foreigner"
Well, I *am* a foreigner!
Oh, I guess so!
Yeah
"Foreigner", haha
"Foreigner"!
"Foreigner", yep!
Although technically I'm not a foreigner in America...
I guess that's true!
Wow, your Chinese is so good!
Quite good indeed
Thanks
His accent is great
Yeah, it's great!
Where does it sound like I learned my Chinese from?
Like...
Maybe Shanghai?
Shanghai? Actually Beijing
Oh, you learned in Beijing...
But maybe I've been in New York for too long...
So now I have kind of a weird accent
Because the Beijing accent has that tongue rolling sound...
That's true
[in exaggerated Beijing accent] You gotta really roll your tongue to get the Beijing sound
That's it!!
I don't sound like that!
That's it!
But I can kind of imitate it though
Now THAT'S more like a Beijing accent
Your normal accent doesn't really sound so Beijing-y
Yeah, I mean normally how I speak...
I have more of a southern accent
There's just more southern Chinese speakers in New York
Yeah, like Fujianese people, Cantonese people...
Yes, we are Fujianese!
[Fujianese] Ah yes, I can speak some of the local dialect
[Fujianese] He speaks Fujianese?!
[Fujianese] My friend taught me
[Fujianese] He speaks Fujianese?!
That's impressive!
[Fujianese slang] Amazing!
Thanks guys
I appreciate it
You need a new shirt that just says "American"
Ah, just right here, "American"
That would be great
And you guys could sell it in your shop!
No, I could never sell that
You couldn't?
Because Americans wouldn't get the joke!
That's true, most Americans wouldn't understand!
You might get it but most people won't
Although lots of people will wear whatever, as long as it has Chinese on it!
That's true
It's pretty rare to see people with such good Chinese!
Although the craziest thing wasn't that you spoke Mandarin...
The craziest thing was that you spoke Fujianese!
Truly impressive!
No, well to be honest I don't speak it that well, it's so hard
Is it?
Yeah
But the fact that you learned it is still super impressive
Anyone can understand Mandarin, but Fujianese is another story!
Hello!
Hey how are you?
Snow pea leaf
What?
Snow pea leaf!
Pea shoot!
Oh, snow pea
Yeah, snow pea
This is chestnut?
Yeah yeah
1 pound?
Yeah, $5
1 pound $5?
Yeah
With no shell or with the shell?
You peel
Peel? Okay
Can I get 1 pound?
Haha, it says "foreigner"
Foreigner, haha
What's wrong with foreigners?
No, it's cool!
Your clothing says "foreigner"!
That's true!
Yeah, did you make it yourself?
Yeah, I did!
You did?!
Well it looks great!
Do you like it?
It looks great!
It says "foreigner"!
It does!
$5 dollars
It looks great!
Chinese people call me "foreigner" all the time so...
...I thought I might as well make some clothes out of it!
Just write it right on my clothes!
You just wrote "foreigner" on your clothes!
Well it's a great idea!
Well thanks!
[Passerby] This "foreigner" speaks great Mandarin!
I can!